News Picks : Volcanoes help slow global warming

Guardian: The eruption of at least 17 volcanoes since 2000 is partly responsible for a temporary slowing of global warming. World surface temperatures have been rising over the past century due to increased levels of anthropogenic greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. However, since 1998, when temperatures peaked, the overall rise has been less than predicted by modeling and observational data. According to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience, the slowdown may be partly attributed to Sun-blocking aerosols, like sulfur, ejected by volcanoes. Nevertheless, the researchers point out that many factors are involved and that volcanic activity provides only a “temporary respite.”